Crisis in Greece: reasons

The crisis in Greece, which we observe today, began in 2010. It can not be said about its isolation. The fact is that the crisis in Greece is one of the brightest components of the debt collapse that erupted in Europe. Why was this country hit? What are the causes of the crisis in Greece? Consider those of them that are especially discussed on the pages of the media.

Causes of non-material nature

Partly the economic crisis in Greece is caused by the fact that this country is the only state in whose constitution there is a provision on the domination of the Orthodox Church. And this is not accidental. The majority of the population of the country adheres to the Orthodox religion. That is why Greece for a long time opposed European officials, most of whom required restrictions on the influence of Orthodoxy. Brussels proposed to separate the Church from the school and ensure the full status of religious, sexual and ethnic minorities.

For a long time, Greek and European media have campaigned to discredit the church in Greece. At the same time, they accused her of moral disintegration of the clergy and non-payment of taxes. Such statements have reached the point where the Orthodox Church was called almost the main culprit in the crisis that broke out in Europe. On the basis of this, the separation of the Orthodox Church from the state began to require even some major politicians of both Greece and other countries.

The main target of such propaganda was monasticism. The anti-church campaign widely used the case of the financial abuse of Abbot Ephraim from the monastery of Vatoped. Many other, less well-known cases have been described.

Non-payment of taxes

According to many mass media, the economic situation in Greece was aggravated due to the fact that the Church does not replenish the country's budget. The purpose of such statements is the direction of popular anger against the parishioners. In response to these accusations, the Holy Synod published its refutation. The Hellas Orthodox Church issued an appeal in which all the taxes paid to the budget were listed in detail. Their total amount in 2011 exceeded the amount of twelve million euros.

The crisis in Greece was a severe test, which affected the entire clergy. A little more than half a century ago, the Church of Greece gratuitously gave the state most of its existing real estate and land. At the same time, an agreement was concluded, according to which wage payments to the clergy were to be paid from the country's budget. However, the government of Greece, pursuing a policy of austerity, not only significantly reduces payments to priests, but also reduces their number. Thus, according to the new legislative acts, only one new servant of the church can count on a salary from the state, which took the place of ten retired or deceased representatives of the clergy. This situation was the result of the fact that parishes in remote areas of Greece lack the priests.

Despite the accusations made and the current situation, the Orthodox Church does not leave believing people. She provides feasible material assistance to those who suffered from economic collapse. The church has opened many free canteens, and also helps thousands of families with free products and cash benefits.

Low level of production

According to experts, the answer to the question "Why is Greece in crisis?" Lies in its relations with the European Union. After joining this community, the state began to experience serious problems in the development of its own production base.

Being sovereign, proud of its own well-developed shipyards Greece. The EU, after its accession to the community, issued various directives, which led to a decrease in the volume of fishing. The same goes for grape growing in many other sectors of agriculture. And if earlier Greece was engaged in export of food products, today it has to import them.

A similar situation has developed in industry. Thus, the economy of Greece to the EU was supported by the work of many enterprises. These included several large factories for the production of knitwear, which are closed today.
Responded to the crisis in Greece and tourism. Every day, the country loses up to fifty thousand people wishing to spend their holidays on the shores of the blessed Hellas. This also has a negative impact on the country's economy.

In addition, becoming a member of a united Europe, the Greeks ceased to self-sustain the country, having entered into the division of labor system existing within the community. They moved to the construction of a post-industrial economy, in which the service industry dominated. In their time for this they received the praise of European officials. At the same time, the EU put Greece on the third place in terms of economic development, ahead of it only Ireland and Luxembourg. Thanks to the ongoing economic policy from 2006 to 2009, the share of the services sector in the country's GDP has grown significantly. With 62% it has risen to a mark of 75%. At the same time, the share of industrial production in the country sharply decreased. But at that time no one paid much attention to these figures. After all, the bulk of the population of the country received good incomes, which were secured by loans.

On what conditions did Greece join the new community? The EU put forward a condition for it to change the attitude and management of property. The country should have been completely privatized by strategic enterprises that are under state control.

In 1992 Greece passed a law on privatization. And already in 2000, twenty-seven large enterprises left the state control. These included five major banks. The share of the state in the National Bank also decreased significantly. By 2010, it was only 33%. Further, there were sold factories of construction materials and food industry, as well as a telecommunications company. Even the production of the famous brand of Metaxa cognac has gone to the British company Grand Metropolitan. Greece ceased to engage in maritime transport, which brought significant profits. In this regard, the state began to sell out its ports.

Poor country?

Why is Greece in crisis? Some believe that the economic collapse that has erupted is linked to the country's poverty. However, contrary to the existing opinion, Greece has a rich reserve of minerals and a huge potential for the development of tourism and the agricultural sector. The country has everything necessary to feed and provide its own population on its own. It should be said that today in Greece there are significant volumes of explored minerals. Their development is not carried out only because of the unpatriotic policies pursued by the local government, and because of the pressure of the EU.

Army of civil servants?

Some experts believe that the crisis in Greece was due to the huge staff of government employees. However, it is not. According to the number of civil servants, Greece stands on the fourteenth place among the members of the European community. Thus, the ratio of such workers to the total number of workers is:
- for Greece - 11.4%;
- for Great Britain - 17.8%;
- for France - 21,2%;
- for Denmark - 29%;
- for Sweden - 30%.

To date, Greece lacks personnel in various fields, including hospitals. State employees in the country include priests, who, as already mentioned above, do not have enough.

The influx of immigrants

The causes of the crisis in Greece lie in those liberal laws that the government of the country has adopted in accordance with the directions of the common policy of the European Union. These decisions were used by residents of Asian and African countries, most of whom are Muslims. Mass arrests of immigrants led to the fact that in Greece, crime, corruption and the shadow economy increased significantly . Significant damage to small businesses, as newcomers do not pay any taxes. Annually from the country the export of hundreds of millions of euros began.

Management of economy

To date, the situation in Greece is such that many decisions in the country are taken by creditors. And this is not an exaggeration. Europe openly puts forward various ultimatums to Greece. In a short period of time, the country almost completely lost its sovereignty, being under strict control of the IMF, the European Commission and the European Central Bank. This "troika" did not allow the holding of a referendum in the country that would enable the Greeks to express their own attitude to the measures of state economy and make the only true decision. As a result, thousands of people found themselves in poverty.

The West is pushing to Greece not only economic, but also political concessions. EU officials are in favor of reducing the army, separating the church from the state and securing the rights of immigrants who do not have an Orthodox faith. This is an open interference in the internal affairs of the country.

Salvation of Greece

In numerous media, the opinion is being imposed that only the European Union can show a way out of the current situation. However, these statements are highly controversial. According to analysts, at the time when the economic crisis in Greece was only gaining momentum, the ratio of its domestic public debt to GDP was at 112%. This figure for many seemed simply monstrous. After the undertaken "rescue" measures, this indicator rose to 150%. If the EU continues to provide its assistance in the future, the situation may worsen even more. The forecast of the Greek economy with the reduction of its budget at the request of Brussels is very pitiable. Athens is not just destroying its economic growth. They will destroy all the prerequisites for him.

In fact, the assistance that Greece offers will not solve its financial problems. She only preserves them. And it became clear when the experts calculated how much Greece's debt will be by 2020. This impressive figure is equal to 120% of GDP. It is impossible to return such a sum. It is unrealistic to serve it. As a result, Greece is in a financial hole. Over the years, she will have to work only to service this aid, leaving her citizens no hope for a better life.

There is an opinion that Europe extends a helping hand not at all to Greece. Financial support, obviously insufficient for this country, will relieve the headache of the euro bank.

Liability of creditors

The essence of the crisis in Greece lies in the fact that the country was in a deplorable situation precisely because of the implementation of the recommendations of the European Union. For a long period, the community imposed new loans on this state. It can be argued that the Greek problem was originally created by the European Union. Prior to EU assistance, the country's debt relative to GDP was lower than that of the United States.
Despite the fact that in 2009 the insolvency of the state became obvious, community officials literally imposed 90 billion euros on Greece. First of all, this was beneficial to the banks themselves. After all, every given euro brought a considerable income. The Greeks were not spending loans on the means they had, and the banks were making money on it.

The parasites of the European Union?

One of the reasons for the crisis in Greece is the media call the desire of the population of the country to live off the given grants. However, all loans are issued by the euro bank with a certain condition. Financial assistance should not be spent on increasing social benefits and pensions. The received sums should go only on creation of objects of an infrastructure which are invincible and necessary to nobody. Of course, such loans do not improve the life of the people. They are beneficial only to Greek and European financiers and officials.

In the media, information is spread that Europe has forgiven Greece for part of the debts. However, it is not. Arrangements to write off 50% of loans are for private investors only. Greece still owes Germany. Those private investors to whom debts are debited are the country's banks and pension funds, which will eventually lose half their assets.

The path to independence

The discussions that Greece is withdrawing from the European Union are now becoming particularly relevant. Staying in this zone for the country means continuing the policy of reducing social spending and the need for austerity. The Greek people are tired of such a life, which is confirmed by numerous protests and strikes, as well as those graffiti with which the outskirts of cities and towns are painted.

Every day, the European Union has less and less desire and finance to lend to this country. And there are already other candidates for obtaining funds. Thus, deindustrialization took place in the EU.

If we assume such a development of events that Greece is withdrawing from the European Union, then it will have to return to its currency. And in this lies not only the possibility of issuing money in the right amount, but also the probability of significant inflation. Of course, the standard of living for the Greeks will decrease, but China and Russia can help them.

Against the exit of Greece from the European Union are international financiers, as well as the IMF, who fear for their capital. Germany does not like this course of events. It threatens, first of all, let the short-term, but still the fall of the euro. In addition, this event will be a bad example for other community members. Following Greece, other countries can "run" from it.

In this situation, the European Union does not need troubled neighbors (Ukraine) and does not want to maintain tensions with Russia, whose economy is integrated with the European one.

Against the sovereignty of Greece - and the United States. This country needs a single Europe, which will serve as a market for American goods.